In the play Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, the American Dream is a theme that’s interpretation varies from character to character. Thus, the life paths of Willy, Biff, and Bernard are all a result of their differences in opinions towards how to achieve the American Dream. For Willy Loman, the idea of living a successful life is done through creating a strong reputation.
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. "Declaration of Sentiments." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al.
2032. Print. Leffelholz, Mary. The Norton Anthology Of American Literature. 7th.
The speaker begins the narration by making a statement that America should return to the idealistic way it used to be: "Let it be the dream it used to be" (2). Then the narrator continues to relate nostalgically the longing for an America built on freedom and equality for all. This could be the dream of the author himself. Wagner states of the author, "Like his first masters Whitman and Sandburg, like his fellow black Toomer, and like so many other American poets of the period, Lan... ... middle of paper ... ...tion in Depression" (Ramperstad 371). Commenting on this poem and its author, Langston Hughes, Ramperstad observes, "Perhaps his finest poem of the thirties combined his will to revolution with his Whitman-like nostalgia for a vanishing America."
A People and a Nation: Vol. 2. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2001. 862. Thernstrom, Stephen & Abigail.
Furthermore, in Obama's speech, he makes a reference to "hope for a better day","individual liberty", the restoration of "prosperity", the promotion of "the cause of peace", and equality amongst the citizens of the United States, the past elements are part of the concept of the American dream. To back up the past idea, at the end of the discourse, Obama mentions that he wants to "reclaim the American dream." To continue, The purpose of King's speech is to persuade. The aim is to introduce and explain the anti-segregation movemen... ... middle of paper ... ...ably wonderful vibration, because one can tell by the content of the speech that both leaders have the best intentions of creating a better future for their country. It is very important to mention that after all, one believes that King has achieved his dream of equality since racism is not a problem in a America anymore, such that the president of the United States is African-american.
The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter et al. 2nd ed. Vol.
New York: Bantam, 1994. Shippey, T.A. J.R.R. Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
Ed. Paul Lauther. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. New York: Houghton 1998. 1342-1354.
New York: Norton, 1983. 1036-1048. -----. "The American Scholar." The American Tradition in Literature.